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Executive Director of Athletics

On 12 May, 2013By admin0 Comments

Robert J. Coleman enters his third season as the executive director of athletics at Whittier College, where he responsible for the operations of Whittier College's athletic department, which currently sponsors 21 intercollegiate varsity sports (11 men, 10 women).

Several initiatives have been established to benefit Poet Athletics during Coleman's short tenure. He has helped upgrade competition facilities with a new synthetic surface, state-of-the-art press box, track resurfacing and lighting for Memorial Stadium. Refurbishments and improvements have also occurred to the Graham Athletic Center, Ettinger Tennis Facility, George Allen Fitness Center, Donald Graham Soccer/Lacrosse Field, Memorial Baseball Field and the Athletic Training Room. These improvements include new scoreboards, sound systems, logos, flooring and equipment.

In addition to creating new positions for coaches and staff, Coleman has also been instrumental in the creation of a new athletics web site and marks for the entire department and increasing the membership of Purple & Gold the programs booster club. In just two years, membership has increased from 386 members to 961. The monies that are raised from the Purple & Gold allow the athletic program to continue upgrading its athletic facilities while also creating opportunities for its current and future student-athletes.

Prior to his appointment at Whittier College, Coleman was the Director of Athletics at The City College of New York from 1998-2005. During his tenure at CCNY, Coleman reorganized the entire program Under his direction the program won nine tournament championships and sent four teams to the NCAA Division III Championships with Women's Track and Field finishing as high as third place. The program also sent seven teams to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships Tournament with Men's Volleyball winning the Metro South Championship. Coleman also brought extensive renovations to the athletic facilities at CCNY, including the basketball gymnasium, fitness center and athletics offices.

Before joining CCNY in 1998, Coleman served as the Associate Director of Athletics at Hunter College (NY) from 1990-1998 and received the graduate fellowship from the Springfield College athletic department in 1988-89.

Over his 18 years of experience in athletic administration, Coleman has had extensive experience with committee participation. He recently completed his four year term on the NCAA Division III Interpretation and Legislation Committee where he was committee chair from January 2007-2008. He also served six years on the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Committee, where from 1998-2001 he was chairman for the Atlantic Region, which culminated in being selected as the chair of the National Committee during the 2000-01 season. Coleman, will begin his two year term as the Chair of the Athletic Administrators in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this upcoming year.

Coleman received his Bachelor of Science in Athletic Administration from St. Leo University, FL in 1987 and a Masters of Education specializing in Sports Management from Springfield College, MA in 1989.

Coleman now lives in Fullerton, CA with his wife, Victoria, and their four-year old son, Aidan.